goals

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Pace or Time?

Awards at races are given out based on the TIME that you cross the finish line.

Personally if you want to improve your running speed, shouldn’t you be looking at PACE not time. After all, some 5ks are calculated at 3.03 miles and others at 3.15 miles.  The same goes for 10Ks, 15ks and Half Marathons.

Naples Half

Santa Clarita Half

Obviously, the longer the course, the slower your finish time will be.

So I thought that I ran faster for my 5K  on Nov. 24 than for my 5K on Nov, 26.  I finished in 27:58 on Nov 24 and in 28:11 on Nov. 26.

As you can see my PACE was faster on Nov 26 (8:57/mi) even though my time was slower.  The 5K course was longer!

So maybe I should re-calculate my PRs and revise my future racing goals!!

Happy Running!  What’s more important to you – time or pace?

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The Former 5K Racer

 

My first year of running, I ran about 13 5K races, my second year, 17 and my third over 20!!  I went from finishing in 37 minutes to finishing in 27 minutes!!

Year Four: two 4 mile races, a 5 mile race, a 15K race and 5 Half Marathons!

Since June, I have run only one 5k and I struggled to finish under 30 minutes!!!

I feel like I am no longer a 5K racer!!!

That being said, I have signed up for three 5K races before the end of the year! Nov 24, Nov 26 and Dec 17.

So what is my goal for my 5Ks?

  • Have fun!
  • Finish under 30 minutes!
  • Get faster with each one…

Happy Running!  How do you choose between distance and speed? Can you do both?

 

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Half Marathon Goal Revised

 

I decided to not be a wimp and just GO FOR IT!

My New Goal= 2:22:38 or lower!! Yes, I plan to try to PR!!!!

 Here’s why… 


Lake George Half elevation
Finish time = 2:22:39


Fall Foliage Half elevation
Finish time = 2:32:50

 

Santa Clarita Half elevation

 Looks flatter to me….

I have nothing to lose…no embarrassment if I don’t  make  it.

I’ll be happy to finish and grab my medal…

Correction= HALF MARATHON 11/6/11

In fact, after my last long 12 min/mi run, it doesn’t appear very likely that I will succeed … but I’m gonna try!!

(You’ll find out on Thursday when I get back….suspense………..)

Happy Running!  How do you come up with your goals?

 

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Goals for Half Marathon #5

As I said in yesterday’s post, I am a little nervous about this race.  In addition to having a heel injury and penguin-like training runs, I also will be changing time zones (3 hour time difference) and staying with a friend’s sister, Ellen, whom I haven’t seen in 36 years.

But really, I’m excited about leaving the Northeast and heading to sunny Cali! I am also looking forward to hanging out with Ellen, her hubby & her daughter. (Ellen, stop cleaning!!!)

My Goals:

A. Have FUN!
B. Finish!
C. Do not re-injure my foot or injure any other body part!
E. Finish faster than Half Marathon #3 –under 2:45.
F. Finish faster than Half Marathon #4 –under 2:32. (This is my hope!)
G.Finish faster than Half Marathon #2 — under 2:22. (This is A DREAM & a PR!!)

Happy Running!  California, here I come!

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Welcome November!

Wow, October flew by!  But I am happy to say that I ran my most miles ever!!! (Previously it was 95 in Dec 2010) I have also surpassed my total miles for 2010 with 2 months left to go!!!

Here were my October Goals:

  • Continue to run pain-free :) – YUP!!
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YUP!!
  • Run 3-4 times a week – YUP!!
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ??? NOPE. Not yet!
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4 – YUP! Actually ran it and now it is HM #5
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both – YUP! A 5K on 10-1-11

    10-1-11

10-10-11


10-16-11


10-22-11

10-23-11

10-30-11

 


GOALS

  1. Hope to continue to run pain-free
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  3. Run 3-4 times a week
  4. Survive Half Marathon #5
  5. Run a 5k  (& finish under 30 min.)
  6. Join a gym & start cross-train

Happy Running!

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Last Week in Review & an Impromptu Half

Monday –  5 miles (on Jones Beach boardwalk)
Tuesday – 3 miles (after work)
Wednesday – 2 miles on treadmill, Yoga 1.25 hrs
Thursday – REST
Friday – 2 miles (after work)
Saturday – REST
Sunday – 13.1 miles – Fall Foliage Half Marathon in Rhinebeck

2 weeks to go… until Half Marathon #5!

Happy Running!

 

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September’s Almost Over. Bring On October!

I ran the whole month of September and haven’t run this many miles in a month since April!!

Here’s what I planned for September:

  1. Hope to run pain-free – Almost (still sore from time to time)
  2. Continue tennis & yoga once a week – YES
  3. Spend a few more weekends on Lake George. – YES
  4. Run 3-4 times a week – YES
  5. Increase weekly mileage by adding longer runs – YES,  got up to 8 miles
  6. Prepare for Half Marathon #4 by doing 4 & 5 – YES
  7. Survive Half Marathon #3 – YES
  8. Run a 5k or 10K race (only if #1) – NO but I have one Oct 1.

running by Huddle Bay on Lake George

 
 

running my 3rd Half

 

So now what’s planned for October?

  • Continue to run pain-free 🙂
  • Continue tennis & yoga once a week
  • Run 3-4 times a week
  • Join a gym & start to cross-train ???
  • Increase weekly mileage by adding long runs to prepare for Half Marathon #4
  • Run a 5k or 10K or both

Happy Running!  What are you planning for October?

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The Aftermath & Plans for the Future

the end of the Adirondack Half Marathon

 
 Looking back, here were my possible plans for this race:

A. Run the whole damn thing (and hope I don’t make my heel injury worse).
B. Walk the whole thing (under 5 hours, of course so I can get a medal).
C. Run until I get tired and then walk.
D. Walk one mile, run one mile, etc.
E. Walk up the hills, run down the hills.
F. Pretend that it’s a training run for Half Marathon #4 instead of a race.
G. Play it by ear. Do whatever feels right.
H. Have lots of fun and take lots of photos.

I didn’t do A or B or D or F.  I got caught up in the excitement and ran most of the the first 7 miles.  After mile 8, I was done and walked up the hills and would have run down the hills if I had the chance. It makes sense since my longest training run was 8 miles.  I had fun and did take photos. So I did C, E, G, & H.

Here were my goals:

  • Have fun.
  • Run a lot of it.
  • Walk when necessary.
  • Finish under 5 hours (but really I want to finish under 4 hours or maybe even in 3 hours)

ALL GOALS ACCOMPLISHED!!! YAY!!!

In 6 weeks, I have another Half Marathon.

I hope to continue training and get in better running shape.  If I don’t have to walk the last few miles, my time will improve.  I have no idea if this course is flat or hilly…so who knows.  But I know I will have fun since I will be in LA and staying with an old friend.

After that, I will do a few 5ks and look for another Half Marathon for the spring.  Yes, I said “Another Half.”

I think I prefer to train in the winter when there’s nothing else to do on weekends and it is not so hot & humid.  There are also not many 5ks races to enter.  I also want to run in a  flat half marathon.

After that, I hope to run many 5ks in the summer as I did before except for the 10 miler in Lake George and maybe a 10k or 15k at some point.

Then who knows…

Happy Running! Anyone know of a FLAT half marathon in the spring in the NE?

 

 
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Goals for Half Marathon #3

Actually this is pretty easy…since I’m not ready to race 13.1.

My Goals:

  • Have fun.
  • Run a lot of it.
  • Walk when necessary.
  • Finish under 5 hours (but really I want to finish under 4 hours or maybe even in 3 hours

I am not a fan of rain.  I raced in it once and that was enough for a lifetime.  Here are the forecasts:

It looks like either way, it will be WARM and  HUMID!!

Happy Running! Good Luck in your weekend races!

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Half Marathon #3 – What’s the Plan?

“If you tell yourself that your goal race is going to hurt + that it won’t be any fun, your expectations will probably come true. Instead tell yourself that there will be challenges, counterbalanced by feelings of joy and satisfaction.” — Jeff Galloway

So what’s the plan?

A. Run the whole damn thing (and hope I don’t make my heel injury worse).
B. Walk the whole thing (under 5 hours, of course so I can get a medal).
C. Run until I get tired and then walk.
D. Walk one mile, run one mile, etc.
E. Walk up the hills, run down the hills.
F. Pretend that it’s a training run for Half Marathon #4 instead of a race.
G. Play it by ear. Do whatever feels right.
H. Have lots of fun and take lots of photos.

Stay tuned to see what I do…

Happy Running! Anyone faced with this situation?